According to reports, a significant number of buses that transport school students in Pune are not complying with basic regulations, despite the Regional Transport Authority’s (RTO) claims of actively addressing the issue.

This situation came to light after a school bus accident on Monday, injuring two students and a roadside vendor.Between April and November, the Pune RTO inspected at least 340 designated school buses, finding that around 61% of them (205 buses) were in violation of regulations, including lacking or expired permits and operating without necessary staff for student safety.

Additionally, out of 309 privately owned buses inspected, about 69% (213 buses) were found to be operating without required permits. In Pune, there are 6,895 school transport buses with permits, and in Pimpri Chinchwad, there are 2,890 such buses.The Regional Transport Officer, Sanjiv Bhor, emphasized the importance of adhering to safety regulations and mentioned the factors considered before granting permits.

Bhor also highlighted the discontinuation of permits for smaller vehicles with 5-10 seats. A school bus transportation company with a large fleet acknowledged the need for increased inspections and suggested collaboration with law enforcement to address the issue.

Concerned parent Vinodini Gangwane called for proactive involvement from both authorities and parents in ensuring compliance with regulations.